Pennie, Pennsylvania’s Health Insurance Marketplace, offers dental coverage. Current Pennie customers can add dental insurance to their plans. New Pennie customers can purchase health and dental insurance as well as only dental insurance. Questions, contact Ken Hetzel, Pennie Director of Policy or Scott Yeager, Pennie Outreach Manager.
LIHEAP Extension in Pennsylvania
In recognition of the ongoing need of Pennsylvanians affected by loss of employment and income, the Department of Human Services (DHS) is extending the 2020-21 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) season. The LIHEAP season will now run through April 30, 2021. DHS does not want Pennsylvanians to be in a difficult position if the utility shut-off moratorium ends, and they are strongly encouraging individuals in need to apply at www.compass.state.pa.us.
Biden’s “Skinny” Budget Delayed
President Biden was expected to release a top-line version of his discretionary funding request, including a breakdown of proposed funding levels for federal agencies and major priorities last week. The Administration has not committed to a new date for the “skinny” budget release. The delay comes as the Administration decides on defense spending figures. Biden was expected to keep defense spending level, but progressive Democrats are pushing to decrease the defense budget, a move Republicans and moderate Democrats are likely to oppose. The entire budget is expected to be released in May 2021. Administration officials have previously cited obstruction from the Trump budget office during the transition period and the lack of an OMB director as reasons for the delay.
Biden Administration Announces Community Corps to Boost Vaccine Confidence
On April 1, 2021, the Biden Administration introduced the We Can Do This Campaign to encourage vaccine confidence. The campaign includes the COVID-19 Community Corps HHS initiative, of which the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) is a founding member, that brings multiple community, religious, and celebrity stakeholders together in support of the We Can Do This Campaign. Visit the Community Corps Website to learn more and join the fight in protecting America’s health.
New Path Opens for Infrastructure Bill
The Senate parliamentarian ruled that a revised budget resolution can include reconciliation instructions, enabling Democrats to use the reconciliation process for Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure bill. Budget reconciliation is usually only allowed to be used once a year. The reconciliation process makes it easier to pass bills related to spending, taxes and debt by limiting debate and allowing the legislation to pass on a simple majority vote. Negotiations on the infrastructure legislation will need to continue to reach a simple majority as centrist Democrats have already indicated they will not vote for the current package due to the high corporate tax hikes included.
State and Philadelphia End Telework Requirement
On April 4, 2021, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ended its mandatory telework order that had been in effect for almost a year. Philadelphia followed suit and ended its telework requirement for offices. Telework is still strongly encouraged, but employers may now bring employees back to the workplace, so long as they continue to follow and enforce other federal, state and local COVID-19 mitigation measures. Read more.
Commentary: Which Think Tanks Think About Rural America?
By Joe Belden
Economic Innovation Group think tank offers tools that introduce “geographic inequality” into the national conversation and bring rural America’s economic distress to the forefront.
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Readers Report on Rural Vaccinations
By Caroline Carlson
Three Daily Yonder readers share their stories as Covid-19 vaccination efforts continue across the nation.
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Commentary: Covid-19 and Long-Term Care in Rural America – One Administrator’s Reflections
By Timothy J. Reeves
Timothy J. Reeves’ reflections on his experience as the administrator of Bucktail Medical Center, a facility caring for the elderly, allow a unique look “behind the curtain” of what it took for the staff and patients to make it through the worst of the pandemic.
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New Research Highlights Differences Between Urban and Rural Hospitals that Provide Obstetric Services
New research from the HRSA-funded University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center shows that among rural hospitals, those hospitals that have stopped providing obstetric care are smaller and more likely to be located in remote rural areas or in majority Black rural counties. This research is critically important for informing programs aimed at addressing disparities in access to maternal health care, like the recently announced RMOMS Program.